Construction Law/FIDIC GOLD BOOK

Questiondear Mr. ELLIOTT,
I need to know please if we can use the gold book for waste water treatment plan in the contract with 3 years operation and maintenance only?.and what are the incovenience for such decison? or am i obliged by the provisions of the gold book to 20 years ?
than you so much
we really appreciate your help

AnswerDear Rash,

Of course you may. The Gold Book is designed for design build operate projects where the Contractor provides finance, but there is no reason why should not use it for a 3 year design build with only 3 years of operation and maintenance. I proposed doing the same thing for a project in Syria some years ago. You need to read the clauses carefully to highlight the differences with the Yellow Book to highlight the operate and maintenance obligations.

Expertise

First response to queries regarding extensions of time, variations orders, site instructions and payment using FIDIC and other forms of Conditions of Contract, based on English Law, and derivatives only. Anyone who needs advice about EoT should download and study the SCL Delay & Disruption Protocol www.eotprotocol.com before submitting a question.

Experience

Value . . .
It's unwise to pay too much, but it's unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money, that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do.
The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it's well to add something for the risk you run.
And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.
. . . John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)
"We are too poor to buy something cheap"
.Romanian Proverb 2002
A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.
George Herbert (English poet 1593-1633)
I said it in Hebrew, I said it in Dutch,
I said it in German and Greek:
But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much)
That English is what you speak!" Hunting of the Snark - Lewis Caroll
Match your presentation to the reader!
The joy of food lasts but an hour, of sleep but a day, of a woman, but a month, but the joy of a building lasts a lifetime. Syrian proverb.
Comments and observations leading to improvements in the translation of FIDIC Red & Yellow books into Romanian prior to approval by FIDIC (reference 'Preface to the Romanian edition')